This has been a week in which it was impossible to escape the topic of child sexual abuse. Jerry Sandusky’s history of abusing boys and young men in Pennsylvania became public, and with it questions proliferated about who knew what, when it had happened, and what had (or had not) been done in response.
As the week unfurled and the details of the sexual abuse were circulated more widely, in more detail, I came to believe that no one should express a social media opinion without reading the grand jury report. I also want to commend Dan Rockwell and the readers of Dan’s “Leadership Freak” blog for one of the most civil, honest, broadly opined, and candid conversations about the issue that I have read. Click here for the post.
Since this is a time in our lives when an accused offender exists and victims who were children at the time must be healed, I have a personal account to share:
When I was 13, I was very, very involved with a masonic organization for girls. I loved everything about the organization – the friends, the ritual, the ability to wear formal gowns regularly, the idea that this affiliation would be a foundation of the adult I would become.
Our adult leader’s husband was frequently in our midst. We did many activities (such as designing the newsletter) at their home. We called our adult leader “Mom” and her first name and her husband “Uncle” and his first name. The whole thing felt like family. Trust was implicit; we were all committed to the organization and its ideals.
One of the offices I held was the position that remained outside of the room where the meeting was held. Largely ceremonial, the idea was that this individual protected the members’ proceedings from being infringed upon by the outside world. I recall a night when I was doing my job, when I was wearing a green form-fitting dress (probably made out of Quiana – this was the late seventies after all!) that made me feel so great about myself.
“Uncle” stayed outside with me. It was me and him – a situation that had likely occurred many times before; I didn’t think anything of it. Until he put his hands around my waist and his tongue in my mouth.
He and I were separated by one plywood door from a room full of people, including his wife. Why I didn’t open the door and stop things I don’t know. I was in shock. Somehow I stumbled through the rest of the meeting once the time came for me to return to the room. When I got home that night I told my parents, “‘Uncle’ kissed me.” The conversation rapidly went from “was it a peck on the cheek?” to the facts of the situation. I remember sitting in the back of our car, at “Uncle’s” house, listening to my dad’s conversation with him. It’s surprising they were both alive afterward.
I don’t know the specifics of what happened after that with the governing board of the organization. I know that “Uncle” was no longer at meetings and I certainly wasn’t ever at his house again. Our family moved away later that year. I know that several years ago he passed away. I suppose this would be a better blog factually if I knew some of the post-incident details, but I really don’t want to go there with my parents again.
One thought that haunts me after all these years is: how many other girls were there who were subjected to this behavior? I can’t have been the only one. What happened after he was forced to stop coming to our meetings? Did he find some other outlet in order to feed his illness?
Lastly, if I had not had adults to tell who believed me, recovery would have been immeasurably harder. A lot of the young men I read about in the grand jury report came from homes where there was instability. Maybe that’s why they were targeted. In my case, I had loving parents to talk to, but an adult who can help a kid when they are being victimized may be someone other than a parent. Be present for the young people in your life. Be aware of the signs of sexual abuse (click this link for information). I realize this advice may seem contradictory — the abuse by Sandusky happened when he was a trusted adult — but organizations who are proactive have ways in which adults and children can interact safely (like always having more than one adult present). If there is a child in your life who needs to safely disclose inappropriate behavior by another adult in their life, take them seriously. Facilitate the appropriate interventions so that, if abuse is happening, it is stopped. For that child and any children in the abuser’s path.
Be that adult.
Wife of one, Mom of two, Friend of many. My pronouns are she/her/hers.
Yours is one of the most poignant and well written posts/articles I have read since the whole PSU case evolved. Thank you – your advice is sound and thank you for sharing your experience. When one life is healed it opens the door for everyone to heal. Blessings to you!
I was wondering, was it rainbow girls? I was one too – I know that wasn't the 'just' of the article, but it struck me.
I have been very lucky to NEVER have been in a position for anything like this to happen to me. I am ALSO VERY careful with both of my kids! Thank you for this article!
Hop'n by from Monday Mingle Blog Hop'. I'm following your blog now, thank you for joining up with me. Wont you please come and join me again soon! ~KM
Krafty Max Originals
Dear readers, I want to address Krafty Max's question as I have had the question privately as well. This incident did occur when I was a member of “Rainbow Girls,” a masonic organization for girls and young women. I hope and pray it was an isolated incident; I know many people have had very positive experiences with the organization.
I commend you for your ability as a young girl to be able to tell your parents about what was going on. One of the many horrible things about child sexual abuse is that the children don't feel that they can come forward and say what is going on (which is why any adult who sees what is going on MUST do so!)
What a brave young woman you were! And yes, you were so fortunate that the adults believed you and supported you. I feel so terribly for the girls who don't tell and/or don't get the support they desperately need.
Thank you for linking up with The Mom Pledge blog hop! Very important topic!
Thank you for sharing. Altho, it did not happen to me, a little girl, 8years old lived across the street. I noticed she had changed one day when she came over to play with Sarah. She acted older, dressed differently and wanted to play provocative games.I pulled her aside talked to her and then struggled with leering her go home.I called dcf, and did d something stupid.I walked across and got in her fathers face ( never do this as u put ut own life in danger) and told him never to touch her again.
By the next day she n her mom were out of the house.not only had her father been sexually abusing her, but her two brothers too.they had also been physically abusing mom n daughter.it was then that I started looking into domestic violence centers.there was one that had just started up in my community.it is a place that all can help these children n moms.they do so much!
When I was in about 2nd grade, I went to my best friend’s house. Only her father was home. He rubbed me “through my shorts” for a few minutes until I said I heard my mom calling me (from about 10 houses down!) and left. I don’t remember how quickly I told my parents, and I was believed, but they did nothing about it. The reason for the inaction was that my father was a new physician in town and didn’t want to have that kind of publicity/notice. That decision didn’t affect me at the time, but I’ve always wondered if that allowed him the freedom to pursue other girls. I did eventually mention it to my friend, who did not appear to believe it, but I’ve always hoped she mentioned it to her mother who may have then taken whatever steps she could.
I never thought it affected me much that I could tell, but when I met my paternal grandfather who was similar looking, I was very uncomfortable around him.
It’s AMAZING how those memories can stay with us, isn’t it? I have struggled, too, with wondering who else was dealing with similar behavior from him and not feeling like they could speak up. Thank you for sharing that. I hope your friend was able to lead a safe and happy life.
Wow. Thank you for sharing that. That situation definitely could have been even worse – if that leader had done more, if you hadn’t spoken up, if your parents hadn’t listen, if your parents hadn’t confronted him, maybe even if your parents hadn’t moved. And I definitely think some abusers are experts at identifying kids who don’t have enough support. This situations are just too common place. And you were in what seems like a supportive, mature community – this wasn’t a drunken party your parents were throwing or something.
I agree on all of the above. I have a better, more nuanced appreciation for my parents now, especially since I am a parent myself. But I’ll never forget what a difference it made that they believed me.